Special Education Teachers, All Other Salary
The median pay for a special education teachers, all other in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is $74,180/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $103K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.59), that's roughly $71,609 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,781/month, about 36.5% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $74K get you in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Chicago-Naperville-Elgin’s Regional Price Parity (103.59). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About special education teachers, all others
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What this looks like in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin
Special education teachers, all other pay in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin tracks closely to the national median, $74K locally vs. $77K nationwide, a 3% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,781/month, which is 37.6% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 103.59) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for special education teachers, all others in metros near Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Peoria | $51K | $56K |
| Springfield | $59K | $64K |
| Champaign-Urbana | $61K | $66K |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha | $79K | $82K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Entry-level special education teachers, all others (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $74K. Top earners bring in $103K or more, a $53K spread from bottom to top.
Special Education Teachers, All Other pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Special Education Teachers, All Other salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $103K | +35% | 8,920 |
| New Mexico | $87K | +13% | 100 |
| Delaware | $85K | +11% | 50 |
| Oregon | $82K | +7% | 820 |
| Rhode Island | $80K | +5% | 110 |
| Colorado | $79K | +4% | 180 |
| Michigan | $79K | +3% | 3,320 |
| Massachusetts | $78K | +2% | 300 |
| Virginia | $77K | +1% | 540 |
| Washington | $77K | +0% | 170 |
| Pennsylvania | $77K | -0% | 450 |
| Georgia | $76K | -1% | 980 |
| Maryland | $76K | -1% | 3,020 |
| District of Columbia | $71K | -7% | 130 |
| New Jersey | $71K | -7% | 610 |
| Iowa | $71K | -7% | 340 |
| Minnesota | $69K | -9% | 180 |
| Florida | $69K | -10% | 900 |
| Utah | $68K | -11% | 100 |
| Wisconsin | $67K | -13% | 160 |
| New Hampshire | $67K | -13% | 160 |
| New York | $66K | -14% | 2,170 |
| Texas | $66K | -14% | 880 |
| North Carolina | $65K | -15% | N/A |
| Illinois | $65K | -15% | 2,560 |
| Nevada | $64K | -16% | 1,230 |
| Tennessee | $63K | -17% | 180 |
| Kentucky | $63K | -18% | 290 |
| Arkansas | $62K | -19% | 70 |
| North Dakota | $62K | -20% | 90 |
| Connecticut | $61K | -20% | 1,400 |
| Louisiana | $61K | -20% | 610 |
| Indiana | $61K | -20% | 80 |
| Nebraska | $60K | -22% | 60 |
| Arizona | $60K | -22% | N/A |
| Maine | $57K | -26% | N/A |
| Ohio | $51K | -33% | 580 |
| Missouri | $50K | -35% | 210 |
| Alabama | $50K | -35% | 110 |
| Vermont | $47K | -39% | 70 |
| Mississippi | $47K | -39% | 60 |
| West Virginia | $40K | -48% | 530 |
Showing 1–10 of 42 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track special education teachers, all other salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Chicago-Naperville-Elgin numbers change.
Related careers in Education
Frequently asked questions
Can a special education teachers, all other afford a 2BR apartment alone in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $74K, rent takes 37.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,781/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,400/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for special education teachers, all others in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new special education teachers, all others typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,973/month. At HUD’s $1,781/month FMR, rent would take 60% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is special education teachers, all other a high-paying job in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $74K locally vs. $77K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Chicago-Naperville-Elgin compare to the national average for special education teachers, all others?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin pays $74K median vs. the U.S. average of $77K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.59), the purchasing-power equivalent is $72K — below the national median.
How much do special education teachers, all others make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median is $74,180 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,550, and experienced special education teachers, all others can clear $103,030. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $74K enough to live in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,742/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,781/month, which eats 37.6% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a special education teachers, all other salary go in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin?
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin has a Regional Price Parity of 103.59 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median special education teachers, all other salary is worth about $71,609 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do special education teachers, all others get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.